Thill-coupling



(NoMqdeL) W. A. STADELMAN.

THILL GOUPLING.

No. 333,973. Patented Jan. 5, 1886..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. STADELMAN, OF LOWER IWIERION, PENNSYLVANIA.

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part oi Letters Patent No. 333,973, dated January5, 1886.

Application filed March 23, 1885. Seria No. 159,770. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. STADEL- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Lower Merion, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania,have invented certain Impro-vements in (Phill-Couplings, of which thefollowing is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to so construct a thill-coupling as toprevent rattling of the same when in use, and to permit theV readyapplication of the thill to or its removal from the lugs or ears on theaxle-clip.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a side view, partly in section,of a thill-coupling constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2,a longitudinal section of the same, partly in elevation; Fig. 3,atransverse section, partlyin elevation; and Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, and S,detached views of different parts of the coupling.

A represents the axle of a vehicle, and B the usual clip embracing thesame and secured thereto by means of cross-bars a and nuts a', this cliphaving in front two projecting ears, b, between which iits the eye d ofthe thill-iron D, slots e being formed in the ears for the reception ofthe opposite ends of a pvot-pimf, which is carried by the thill-eye d,being adapted to the central opening of said eye and furnished with akey, g, adapted to a slot, h, in the eye, so that it is prevented fromturning independently of said eye. The

eye d is slotted for the reception of the head n of a bolt, F, which ishung to the pinf, the bolt carrying aretainer,G, between which and anut, m, at the lower end of the bolt, is interposed a spring, p,preferably of rubber or other elastic material,` whereby an upwardpressure is imparted to the retainer, so as to causethe seating ofbeveled lugs w thereon in notches x in the under side of the ears b ofthe axle-clip. The thill is then free to vibrate, the pivot-pinj'turningin the slots e, and being drawn firmly down to the bottom of said slots,so as to prevent rattling, by reason of the downward pressure exertedupon the bolt F by the spring p.

The engagement of the lugs w with the notches x in the ears b serves toprevent accidental displacement of the parts from the position shown inFig. 1, and in order to as- 4sist in the performance of this duty, aswell as to drive the pin f forward and insure the firm bearing of thesame on the ears at the front of the slot, the headu of the bolt F formsa cam, s, which bears upon the front portion, t, of the clip B.

When it is desired to release the thill, the lower end of the bolt F isdrawn forward with pressure sufficient to remove the lugs w from thenotches @0,the-thill iron,with its pivotpin, being lifted out as soon asthe retainer is free from control of the ears. The thill can be readilyreinserted by a reversal of the operation.

In order to prevent the loosening of the nut m at the lower end of thebolt F, said nut has a serrated upper edge, forming abearing for thespring p, and the bearing ofthe latter upon the retainer G is alsoserrated.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination of theaXle-clip and itsslotted ears, having notchesx, the thill having a pivot-pin adapted tothe slots, the bolt F, hung to said piu, a retainer, G, carried by thebolt and adapted to the notches in the ears, and a spring acting on saidretainer, as specified.

2. The combination of the slotted ears, the thill, the pivot pin, thebolt F, hung to said pin, and the retainer, spring, and nut carried bythe bolt, said retainer and nut having serrated faces, as set forth.

3. The combination of the axle-clip and its slotted ears,the thillhaving a pivot-pin adapted to the slots, the bolt hung to the pin andhaving a cam-head, and a springretainer carried by the bolt, as setforth.

4. The combination of the axle-clip and its slotted ears, the thillhaving a pivot-pin adapted to the slots, and a bolt hung to the pin andcarrying a retainer engaging with the ears of the clip, said bolt beingfree to swing on the pivot-pin, so as to release the retainer from thecont-rol ofthe ears, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

W. A. STADELMAN. Vitnesses:

WILLIAM F.- DAvIs, HARRY SMITH.

